3 minute read

El Kodigo lines up for Sunday’s (15 December, Hong Kong time) G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (2400m) with all the right credentials to claim South America's equivalent of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The Group 1 showpiece on the turf of Hipodromo de San Isidro, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in Argentina, is debuting as a World Pool contest.

El Kodigo , partnered by his regular rider Gustavo Calvente, has established a wide fanbase this season, picking up Group 1 wins in the Republica Argentina (2000m), General San Martín (2400m) and Copa De Oro (2400m).

The flying four-year-old faces 19 rivals, including contenders from Brazil, Uruguay and Peru.

Whilst boasting the best form, connections' jaws dropped at Tuesday's (10 December) barrier draw when El Kodigo ended up in stall 20, right beside Avenida Dardo Rocha, the road which runs alongside the track.

To counterbalance this misfortune, he has a long straight ahead of him to get in a decent position before the bend.

But the tricky card he was dealt in the draw lottery undoubtedly makes his task harder, opening up possibilities for others in the field.

Like Crazy Talent, the only horse who has succeeded in beating him this year, has the added plus of one of South America's top jockeys in Juan Carlos Noriega on board.

Noriega, seeking a fourth win in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, is so hyped about this year's race he was in attendance on Tuesday for the all important barrier draw as Crazy Talent was assigned stall nine.

"We were quite lucky. We wanted nine, eight, seven or one, and we were lucky that we got our first choice," he recounted to Argentinean racing publication turfdiario.

The man from Cordoba has high hopes of bringing up his fourth win in a race first run in 1887 and once attended by the late American President Teddy Roosevelt.

He says a change of tactics, in racing Crazy Talent  nearer the pace, paid off spectacularly when the four-year-old got the better of El Kodigo over the 2400m distance on turf in the G2 Clasico Comparacion in August.

Noriega added: "You work all year for this and you are waiting to see which horse you get to ride. My friends were asking me five months ago what I'm going to ride! This time it will be with Crazy Talent, who is very talented, always runs well, and, fortunately, arrives in spectacular form in training. 

"He always runs well, I have a lot of respect for El Kodigo and others but this year our horse lines up in top shape."

In a top notch renewal Acento Final is the star of the Classic generation, having landed the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club (2000m).

He is being taken on by the four horses who finished behind him that day, headed by runner-up Honest Boy , who has one and a half lengths to find.

The fourth home, Grezzo, went on to comfortably claim a Group 3 over 2400m in a quicker time than El Kodigo produced when landing the Copa De Oro on the same card.

Jazz Seiver returns after last year's fourth in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini.

Peru's last success in the race came back in 1993 and their challenger, Don Feres, holds claims with top jockey Carlos Trujillo on board, and has form at this track based on his eye catching second in the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (2000m) in 2023.

One of three Uruguayan hopes, Master Of Puppets, is on a four-timer since switching stables to the talented trainer Facundo Santesteban, who is having his second shot in the race after his 2021 challenger came in fourth.

Four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Joao Moreira partners Brazilian challenger Cold Heart.